Blast from the Past

Retelling and impressions

The film started with a party at Webber’s place. 1962. The guests were discussing the current political situation and the owner of the house — Dr. Calvin Webber (because he seemed to be a bit weird). When they heard the news about declaring emergency, Dr. Webber suggested they cut the party short. He, as a lot of people at that time, believed, that a nuclear war between The Soviet Union and The USA was inevitable so he had built a large fallout shelter to live there until radiation was over. It was an enormous place with all the things people could need so he took his pregnant wife into the shelter to be prudent. So when they came down, a jet crashed into their house, and, of course, caused an explosion. Dr. Webber thought it was a nuclear bomb, which meant the beginning of the war so the system of the fallout shelter was activated, and they realized they would not be able to get out of there for 35 years (because only then it’d be safe to go up). Everyone thought the whole family died (because of the accident) because nobody knew about Dr. Webber’s secret.

Calvin’s wife Helen gave birth to a boy. They named him Adam — connecting it with religion. Adam was brought up being taught all culture up to 1962. His dad taught him French, Latin and Martial Arts, his mom taught him dancing. He was introduced to the films and music from his parents’ era — I love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Perry Como. His parents taught him to be polite, to respect others, to make others feel as comfortable as possible.

While they were in the shelter, a small diner called “Mom’s” was built on the place where their house had stood, later it became a pub. This pace was shown throughout the 35 years (the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 90s). At the beginning of the film that neighborhood where The Webbers lived was a nice subdivision bu then it changed to a seedy area of the city — full of abandoned buildings with graffiti marks, transvestites and prostitutes, adult bookstores, the homeless, addicts and alcoholics who threw up on the streets. A young man named — Melcher worked for his Mom, but later she gave him this place for free, and the place turned into a crack house.

When the locks opened, Calvin was so shocked to see what had happened to the world,so he decided to stay underground. But they were running out of supplies so somebody needed to go up to buy it. Dr. Calvin had a heart attack so Adam had to go. When he was on the surface, he met Melcher who had mistook his father for God a night before, so Melcher thought Adam was the son of God and started worshiping them. Adam was amazed to see everything he had never seen before — even the sky, the Negro, the child. But when he was finally at the shop, he realized he did not know the way back.

When Adam was trying to sell his father’s baseball cards he met a girl named Eve. She shamed the salesman for deceiving Adam that’s whu he fired her. Adam asked her to drive him to the famous hotel -Holiday Inn (which his mom had told him about), she refused but he said he would give her a very expansive baseball card so she drived him there. On the next day, she returned there to give it back because she felt guilty. Adam liked her and knew she was looking for a job so he offered her to help him to buy supplies for $1,000 per week. He also asked Eve to find a wife (not a mutant)from Pasadena (because his mother had told him the girls there were nicer). Eve introduced Adam to Troy (they lived together).

Eve and Troy took Adam to a 1940s club to find him a wife. Because Adam was a well-built and attractive man, a lot of women (including Eve’s friend Sophie) paid attenrion to him. Then Adam was dancing with two very beautiful women in the center of the dancing floor, Eve became jealous therefore she decided ti have a drink with her ex-boyfriend Cliff (Adam and Cliff had already met before). So when Adam came up to them (understanding that Cliff was just a buzz with hair), Cliff made an attempt to punch Adam, but he knew how to defend himself (because his father had taught him). Eve left the place, Troy later returned home saying that Adam had left with Sophie so Eve got mad. Adam later returned to her house, she got frightened and fell down. Because of this she started limping. Troy explained to Adam that Eve needed not a boy but a man. Adam immideately started behaving differently. They kissed, and then he told Eve the truth (asking her to go down with him) but she asked him to leave.

The next morning Adam returned to Eve’s house,but instead of happy Eve he met a psychotherapist Dr. Nina Aron and her assistant. At first he sadly agreed to go with themt, but run away as soon as they left the house. In the Adam’s hotel room, Troy and Eve found the toothpaste and some booklets manufactured in the 1958 — 1960. Because of all that, they started thinking that Adam was not crazy and was telling the truth.

Adam asked Melcher (and his friends) to help him to deliver all the supplies to the fallout shelter. Eve recognized Adam near the desolate pub; they kissed and Adam took her to meet his parents. Calvin and Helen were very glad to meet Eve. Adam requested them the lock for two months and asked them to trust him so they agreed.

During the two months, Adam and Eve hired people to build a new house in the country. They also helped Melcher to rebuild the old pub into a 50s-themed night shelter — club. (he got upset because Adam was not God)

When they drove the parents home, Adam told his father the truth about the jet crash. He tells his father there was never a nuclear war and that the Soviet Union had collapsed. Calvin did not believe fully but asked Adam not to tell the mother. When Adam left, he started measuring the backyard (maybe trying to design a new fallout shelter) and at the same time Eve was observing his actions staying near the window.

Impressions

This is not a masterpiece, it is not the film that can drive you bananas BUT this is the film that brings a lot of smiles, warmth and nice emotions for both men and women of all ages.

Unfortunately, the film causes not only excitement and positive emotions but also sadness. This film seems to be like a warning to the world to look at oneself, to compare oneself with the image of a sincere, kind, open, trusting, honest person like Adam. Compare and then realize how much this image differs from our modern reality.

But what is worse is that we do not know what would happen to Adam if he continues living in the modern society? Evil and violence of this world may change Adam’s character completely.

Some cool words and expressions:

It’s a dandy

The acorn does not fall very far from the tree

There’s no point beating around the bush

To butt in

Prudent